(Milford)—A local school district has been informed that a logo it’s using may be a copyright infringement. Gary Janssen, Superintendent of the Okoboji Community Schools, tells KUOO news he’s received a letter from the University of Oregon stating that Okoboji’s logo is too similar to the university’s. Janssen says they’ve responded to the university’s letter and is waiting to hear back from its attorney as to whether or not Okoboji is actually going to be forced to change its logo…(click here for comment.) “The Oregon attorney hasn’t responded yet Steve and said these are the things you exactly have to do, but we know that they’re not real happy with us using that style. At some point I guess we have to get our own Okoboji trademark so only Okoboji can use it, but the whole thing Steve is kind of crazy that universities are trademarking specific letters and specific colors and I just think it’s bazarre. There’s a lot more important things to deal with. But nevertheless somebody turned us in and we have to deal with it at a certain point.”
While they’re waiting to hear back, Janssen says they’re calling on the public to submit ideas for a new logo in the event the district does have to replace it…(click here for comment.) “Just go on the school website and send them to Ryan Paulsen. He’ll be glad to take those. He has formed a committee where they’re going to just start looking at possibilities so when we are directed to make these kinds of changes that we have some options available. They can send them to Ryan Paulsen. We’re not just going to rush into this real quickly, Steve, just because since our attorney has not responded yet we don’t have to take any specific direction. But we’re getting ideas, we’re atleast doing what they asked us to do and take a look at it so…”
On another, unrelated topic, Janssen tells KUOO news the Okoboji School District has hired Justin Bouse as its new Elementary Principal…(click here for comment.) “Justin was our Dean of Students here two years ago. He’s currently the Elementary Principal at Estherville-Lincoln Central. We interviewed three candidates and they all had elementary Principal experience, all had elementary teaching experience. So the three interviews were awesome. 22 candidates total, and we put all the candidates through about a five hour interview process meeting with teachers, board members and administrative teams along with parents in the tour process. I think we had a real good process in place and Justin came out on top.”
Bouse begins his new job August 1st.
